Herbs For The Florida GardenJACKIE WILDEY

What Are Herbs

Flavorful - Essential Oils Aromatic Improve the taste or smell of foods

Attractive or Ornamental Great for Containers, Garden Borders, or Formal Garden Designs

Herbs for pest control?

Not documented by any scientific means Anecdotal evidence at best

Maybe it will help Maybe it won’t help

Location

Small space Group annuals together Group perennials together Group away from vegetable plants Part sun / shade

Soils

Soils are extremely important Texture pH Nutrient holding capacity Water holding capacity

Herbs typically have shallow roots Add organic matter Some herbs need well-drained slightly moist

soil: Sage, Rosemary, Thyme Some herbs need soils to retain moisture:

Parsley, chervil, mint

Is Mint A Potential Weed Problem?

Very HIGH water needs in our sandy well-draining soils

Dry Season

Seed Sowing

Ground in Florida best not for direct sow Sandy soils drain fast – don’t retain moisture Coarse texture Heat and sun conditions

You CAN, but best in pots first then transplant Lesson learned the hard way – growing in a window sill

Seed Source: www.mypatriotsupply.com

April 2014

Propagation

Grow from cuttings: sage, balm, rosemary (detail best way to make cuttings) 3-4 inches - Nodes Water/rooting hormone Keep moist – humidity is key (transpiration) Roots develop (about 2 weeks give/take time of year)

Grow from division: chive, rosemary, tarragon

Harvesting

Flavor retained longer if harvested at right time, properly cured, properly stored Dry herbs quickly & away from sunlight to retain color Harvest seeds after fully matured

Mustard seeds – Race the caterpillars Store herbs in containers: Glass, metal, cardboard

Close tightly Keep out light Dry

Herb List AND WHAT YOU CAN USE THEM FORImages provided by Google

Anise

Shrub or small annual (<2 ft) Illicium verum – Culinary Anise SHRUB

Illicium parviflorum – Ornamental Star Anise (Native) Illicium floridanum – Ornamental Florida Anise (TOXIC - Native)

Pimpinella anisum – HERB pH – 6.0 Poor, light, dry, well-drained soil Afternoon shade

Great for flowering garden, border, in pots Leaves may be used fresh Harvest seeds after matured

Basil

Wide range of varieties Sweet Italian Purple Thai Lemon

ANNUALS Grow in pots or in the ground (during the summer)

Soil pH 6.0 Well-drained soil Afternoon shade in the summer / Full sun in the winter Protect from the cold in winter

Borage

Tricky Doesn’t like a lot of heat or humidity Grow in winter Protect from critters

Attractive plant great for in a pot Growing conditions

Soil pH 6.0 Rich, moist, light soil Bright light / Afternoon shade

Cardamom

Perennial – grows from a Rhizome Seeds are used after drying out Looks a lot like Ginger Growing conditions

Moist, rich soil – Needs to be constantly wet, does not tolerate drying out

Shade Humidity

Maybe try it next to a pond

Catnip

Perennial plant if the cats don’t lay down on it

Relaxing tea Growing conditions

pH 6.6 Average, sandy, well-drained soil Afternoon shade

Chamomile

It will grow successfully in winter Protect it from critters Growing conditions

pH 6.7 - 7.0 Light, well-drained soil Afternoon shade

Cilantro – Coriander - Culantro

Annual Use leaves (Cilantro) or seed (Coriander) Culantro – Hispanic dishes use the leaves

Much stronger aroma Freeze for later use

Growing Conditions pH 6.6 Moderately rich, light, well-

drained soil Sun to afternoon shade

Chives

Garlic vs Onion Growing conditions

pH 6.0 Moderately rich, well-drained soil Sun / afternoon shade

Dill

Great flavoring Annual Butterfly attractor Monster Dill grows 4 feet tall Growing conditions

pH 6.0 Moderately rich, well-drained, moist soil Sun / afternoon shade

Garlic

Compound Bulb Aromatic Some succeed in ground, some in pots Divide cloves to propagate Growing conditions

pH 4.5 – 8.3 Rich, deep, moist, well-drained soil Sun / afternoon shade Prune off flowers so energy goes into bulbs Summer or winter, harvest bulbs in summer when

tops start to turn brown

Ginger

Yes, you can plant the ginger root from the store to grow your own ginger Do NOT try to eat ornamental gingers Aromatic leaves

Not edible Use only the roots Takes at least 1 year to get harvest ready roots Growing conditions

Fertile, moist, well-drained soil Shade

Lemon Balm

Fantastic perennial grower Spreads readily Keep watered – doesn’t like to dry out extended periods of time

Growing Conditions pH 7.0 Average, well-drained soils Sun to afternoon shade

Marjoram vs Oregano

Origanum majorana – Sweet Marjoram Gentle, subtly perfumed, calming herb

Origanum spp. – others of the same Genus, different species

Lovely in a pot Grow in ground – provide irrigation Growing conditions

pH 6.8-6.9 Light, dry, well-drained soil Sun to Afternoon shade

Mint

Wide selection of varieties Peppermint, Yerba Buena Mint, Lemon

Mint, Chocolate Mint (not great for using), Spearmint, Pineapple Mint, Apple Mint

Peppermint is your best one to use in the kitchen (best amount of menthol)

Growing Conditions pH 6.5 Rich, moist, well-drained soil Sun to afternoon shade Provide water when dry season hits

Parsley

Curly leaf vs flat leaf Best in cool-season

Doesn’t tolerate heat/high humidity very well, but can if you help it Butterfly attractor Growing conditions

pH 6.0 Moderately rich, moist, well-drained soil Afternoon shade in summer

Rosemary

Perennial shrub Wide range of varieties

All can be used Difference is quantities of essential oils

Best to start from cuttings Don’t Over water Don’t Under water Growing Conditions

pH 6.5-7.0 Well-drained soil Sun to afternoon shade

Sage

Perennial herb easy to grow and to use Attractive silvery-green leaves great as a border or in a pot

Contrast against darker green leaves Start from seed or cuttings Use leaves fresh or dried Growing conditions

pH 6.4 Well-drained, moderately rich soil Sun to afternoon shade

Savory – Summer vs Winter

Both have a zesty peppery taste

Growing conditions pH 6.7-6.8 Average to light, well-drained soil Sun to afternoon shade

Satureja hortensis - Summer savory Annual Upright, branching, 12-18 inches Good with the flower garden

Satureja montana - Winter savory Perennial Woody Weak-stemmed

Tarragon

Perennial herb 2 feet height

Licorice-like / anise-like aroma Grow in winter

Doesn’t tolerate summer heat very well Propagate by division Growing conditions

pH 6.9 Rich, sandy, well-drained loam Sun to afternoon shade

Thyme

Perennial herb Many different varieties

Lemon thyme, caraway thyme, nutmeg thyme Replant every 3-4 years for best growth Use both leaves and flowers Growing conditions

pH 6.3 Light, well-drained soil Sun to afternoon shade